UK's Big Ben to fall quiet for repairs

﻿The work on the famous bell is scheduled to start in January 2017 and is said to last three years.

Photo: SERGIO FLOREZ, STF

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A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben ... more

A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell, at the Houses of Parliament is reflected in a bus window in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent ... more

Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell, at the Houses of Parliament is reflected in a bus window in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben ... more

A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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An exterior view shows the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a ... more

An exterior view shows the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben ... more

A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben ... more

A roadworks sign stands on Westminster Bridge, near the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

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An exterior view shows the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for ... more

An exterior view shows the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben bell in London, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Officials say the chimes of Britain's Big Ben bell will fall silent for several months during a three-year restoration of Parliament's crumbling clock tower. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) less

Photo: Matt Dunham, STF

LONDON - It's so long to Big Ben 's bongs - at least temporarily.

British officials announced Tuesday that the famous bell of Parliament will fall silent for several months during repairs to its crumbling clock tower.

The work, due to begin in January 2017 and last three years, is the biggest repair job on the tower for decades - and Steve Jaggs, Parliament's Keeper of the Great Clock, said it can't wait much longer.

"The tower is not unstable," he said. "But unless we do something now it's going to get a lot worse.

"We need to do the work pretty soon to keep this for future generations to enjoy."

Jaggs said the $42 million renovation will include work to repair corrosion to the cast-iron roof and to stop water seepage that threatens to damage the stonework on the iconic 160-year-old building.

The huge clock, which has run almost uninterrupted since 1859, will be stopped for several months so that Parliament's clockmakers can work on the spring that holds the 13-foot pendulum and remove the hands from each of the four faces.

The 13.5 British ton (15.1 U.S. ton) Big Ben bell will cease to sound the hours while the clock is stopped, and will be cleaned and checked for cracks.

Officially named the Elizabeth Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the structure is one of London's most famous landmarks. It became a symbol of defiance when it survived German bombing raids during World War II - though one of the four clock faces was blown out.